Device for partitioning a space between two bodies in relative motion to each other

Claim 1

A ground-effect type bearing device having a structure with a rigid pressure plate integral therewith, movable relatively to a body with the interposition of a space between said structure and said body, said device comprising: a flexible sheet extending adjacent to said rigid pressure plate, a flange extending along the periphery of said structure and designed for clamping said flexible sheet to said rigid pressure plate, a plurality of platelets positioned inside said peripheral flange and designed for further clamping said flexible sheet to said rigid pressure plate, the sides of said platelets being spaced from and substantially parallel to the sides of each other and to the sides of said flange, said flexible sheet forming in the intervals between said spaced sides protrusions bulging towards said body and in free communication with each other, said protrusions partitioning said space into a plurality of contiguous chambers in generally chessboard pattern, a first source of fluid under pressure and a second source of fluid at a pressure different from ambient pressure, both positioned on the side of said pressure plate opposite to said flexible sheet and platelets, means extending across said pressure plate for communicating said protrusions with said first source whereby to maintain the same in said bulging configuration, and further means extending across said pressure plate, said flexible sheet and said platelets for communicating at least some of said chambers with said second source, whereby to maintain said space at a pressure different from ambient pressure for the development of a ground effect relationship between said structure and said body.